Wire's debut album, Pink Flag (1977), contains songs which are diverse in mood and style, but most use a minimalist punk approach, unorthodox structures, and several songs are under a minute in length; "Field Day For The Sundays" is only 28 seconds long.
Chairs Missing followed in 1978, and found Wire stepping back from the stark minimalism of Pink Flag, with longer, more atmospheric songs and synthesizer parts added by producer Mike Thorne. The experimentation was even more prominent on 154 (1979). Many of the songs had bassist Graham Lewis on lead vocals.
In 1979, creative differences pulled the band in different directions, leading to the Document and Eyewitness LP (1981), a recording of a performance that featured, almost exclusively, new material. The LP came packaged with an EP of a different performance of more new material. Some of these songs, along with others performed but not included on the album, were included on Colin Newman's post-Wire solo albums ("5/10", "We Meet Under Tables"), while others were released by Gilbert and Lewis' primary post-Wire outlet Dome ("And Then...", "Ritual View"). The band disbanded for the first time in 1980
Between 1981-85 Wire ceased recording and performing in favour of solo and non-Wire collaborative projects such as Dome, Cupol, Duet Emmo, and several Colin Newman solo efforts. In 1985, the group reformed as a "beat combo" (a joking reference to early 1960s beat music or even possibly beatniks), with greater use of electronic musical instruments. It released It's Beginning To And Back Again (IBTABA) in 1989, a "live" album of mostly re-worked versions of songs from The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is a Cup...Until It Is Struck, heavily re-arranged, edited, and remixed. A new song from the album, "Eardrum Buzz", became the band's biggest charting single.
Gotobed left the band in 1990, after the release of the album Manscape. After his departure, the band dropped one letter from its name, becoming "Wir" (still pronounced "wire"), and released The First Letter in 1991. Once again, the band disbanded in 1992 There followed a further period of solo recordings, during which Newman founded the Swim ~ label, and later Githead with his wife (ex-Minimal Compact bassist Malka Spigel), while Wire remained an occasional collaboration. It was not until 1999 that Wire again became a full-time entity.
With Gotobed back in the line-up (now using his birth name, Robert Grey), the group initially reworked much of their back catalogue for a performance at Royal Festival Hall on 26 February 2000. Wire's reception during a short tour of the US, and a number of UK gigs, convinced the band to continue. Two EPs and an album Send (2003) followed, as well as collaborations with stage designer Es Devlin and artists Jake and Dinos Chapman. In 2004 the band split once more.
In 2006, Wire's 1970s albums were re-released with original vinyl track listings. Rumours abounded of a renewal of activity to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's debut as a 4 piece and the re-release of Pink Flag in 2007. A third Read & Burn EP was released in November, 2007.
A full-length album of new material entitled Object 47 was released in July 2008. Bruce Gilbert was not involved in this recording, although according to Colin Newman, he did feature in a minimal capacity on the third Read and Burn EP. 2011 saw the release of the band's twelfth studio album Red Barked Tree.
Outdoor Miner
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can only help to jeopardize
The lives of lambs, the shepherd cries
An outdoor life for a silverfish
Eternal dust less ticklish
Than the clean room, a houseguest's wish
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
Face worker, a serpentine miner
A roof falls, an under-liner
Of leaf structure, the egg timer
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth (is he trying to hide?)
The opening lines of Wire's "Outdoor Miner" suggest a contrast between the wild and the captive, predator and prey. The "leopard's eyes" symbolize the keen vision of a creature that is both admired and feared for its wildness. However, in this context, the singer suggests that the leopard's sharp vision only puts more pressure on its prey, the "lives of lambs" who are under the care of a shepherd. The second stanza introduces the titular silverfish, a small insect that survives in outdoor environments and thrives in "eternal dust" rather than the "clean room" preferred by human house guests. The impossible "ticklishness" of "eternal dust" implies something about the impermanence of life and matter.
The third stanza introduces a "face worker," who is a "serpentine miner" and an "under-liner" of the "leaf structure." Again, there is a suggestion of hidden or obscure lives, this time of creatures that are subterranean or work in the service of other living things. The final stanza returns to the silverfish, who appears to be "hiding" but is actually resting on the earth he has known since birth. The repetition of the phrase "is he trying to hide?" emphasizes the theme of concealment and secrecy that runs throughout the lyrics.
Overall, the lyrics of "Outdoor Miner" engage with themes of survival and adaptation in harsh or marginalized environments. The repeated image of creatures hiding or working beneath the surface of things suggests a parallel to human lives that are often obscured or unobserved.
Line by Line Meaning
No blind spots in the leopard's eyes
The leopard has no blind spots, which means it is a perfect predator.
Can only help to jeopardize
However, this perfection only leads to the endangerment of lambs, as their shepherd cannot protect them from the leopard.
The lives of lambs, the shepherd cries
The shepherd is emotional over the fact that he cannot protect his lambs from their predator.
An outdoor life for a silverfish
Silverfish, unlike the leopard and the lambs, can thrive in an outdoor environment.
Eternal dust less ticklish
The dust in the outdoor environment does not bother the silverfish at all.
Than the clean room, a houseguest's wish
In contrast, a sterile room, devoid of any dust, is more preferred by human houseguests.
He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
The singer of this song is lying on his side, and it is unclear whether he is purposely hiding from something.
In fact it's the earth, which he's known since birth
In reality, he is simply resting on the ground, which he has known his entire life.
Face worker, a serpentine miner
The artist is compared to a hardworking miner, who has to move through tight spaces like a serpent to get the job done.
A roof falls, an under-liner
In this dangerous profession, a roof can collapse at any time, potentially trapping or harming the miners underneath.
Of leaf structure, the egg timer
This miner uses the structure of leaves to help measure the passage of time.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN JOHN NEWMAN, GRAHAM LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GuitarsAre LikeStupid
This is one of the most gorgeous songs in rock and roll.
ALLMUSICISSHITTOGOD
When I tell people it’s my favorite punk song they get confused and sad.
Julia Wirch
I play it alone. Drunk in the Netherlands.
Dawn Of The Dead
It’s the earliest proto Shoegaze imo and at least 10-15 years ahead of its time
John Bourhis
It’s such a great tune. Never get tired of the beautiful chorus.
Rupert Wilmot
Brian Eno vibes
Violet GC
This song alone could put Wire on the map as one of the best bands of all-time
Corben
I just can't stop revisiting this masterpiece. So seminal for my musical tastes as they have developed over time.
Kel B
Same
Neighbourhood Witch
This played and played as I worked in an ‘alternative’ shop in Edinburgh after I left school in 1986. The memories it evokes are priceless 🥰